[Stepvan] Looking for advice on mounting a rear seat but have an aluminum floor.

[MonsterToast]

Hey all! First post here! Looking forward to being part of the community.

I'm a bit stuck on my van buildout plans. We have a 2011 Utilimaster step van. I want to put a fold-up bench seat behind the drivers seat for my son and potentially an occasional extra passenger.

For the purpose of this question it probably doesn't matter what type of seat is going in. My concern is about how to reinforce the aluminum floor so the seat is anchored securely and my son will be safe when riding in the new seat. 

I've seen people just bolt through the aluminum and their wooden floor but that doesn't seem like it would be secure enough even in a minor crash. 

Has anyone on here figured out a way to reinforce the aluminum with steel or something and safely mounted a rear seat in a step van? I've looked underneath and it may be possible to weld or bolt  a steel plate to the chassis. Would sandwiching the aluminum with a bottom and top steel plate be a good plan? 

Any ideas or experiences would be welcome and appreciated. Thanks!

 

[MonsterToast]

Aaand I'm not sure if I posted this in the wrong place. Not really "Choosing The Right Vehicle" material but I don't see a "build questions" type forum.

 

[MrNoodly]

Perhaps some steel plates under the floor. Or, if the spacing works with whatever bench seat to get, drill through the chassis rails. 

  Or bolt your son to the floor and wall. 

 

[MonsterToast]

"Or bolt your son to the floor and wall. " 

 

[highdesertranger]

If you feel the floor is not enough then reinforce it with more/heavier aluminum, Not steel/iron. Also use stainless hardware.
the reason is the reaction between the two.

BTW go over to the "Newcomers Corner" and give us intro.

Highdesertranger

 

[MrNoodly]

If you feel the floor is not enough then reinforce it with more/heavier aluminum,  Not steel/iron.  Also use stainless hardware. 
the reason is the reaction between the two.

Um, but the aluminum body is attached to a steel chassis. The engine has aluminum parts attached to steel and iron parts.

 

[highdesertranger]

Yes, insulated by rubber. I am just saying what I would do. aluminum on aluminum with stainless hardware. insulate any steel. Highdesertranger

 

[PlethoraOfGuns]

What HDR said. Be careful of bimetal corrosion. The floor on step vans are extremely thick. Thick enough to drill and tap bolts into. They are also not just flat aluminum. They are actually channelled and very strong. I work not think twice about mounting seat hardware right to the floor with the proper big thick fender washers and the like.

 

[Scott3569]

I would have to agree with plethoraofguns, that floor is not just a sheet of aluminum, there is Studding for lack of a better term.. in the flooring and in the walls of any vehicle actually..

will it be road legal, probably not.. But I doubt anyone will give you any grief